Arturo Vidal has warned Bayern Munich his Barcelona team are the best team in the world ahead of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon on Friday.
And Barca coach Quique Setien was in a confident mood too, insisting Bayern's in-form striker Robert Lewandowski is "clearly" not at the level of his captain Lionel Messi.
Their comments come after former Bayern midfielder Lothar Matthaus told German newspaper Bild earlier this week Lewandowski has overtaken Messi as the best player in the world and he no longer fears Barcelona.
Vidal spent three years at Bayern, who are deemed heavy favourites to reach the semis after winning the German title and hammering Chelsea, while Barca crumbled in La Liga.
But Vidal said on Thursday Barcelona's opponents should not be complacent.
"They are very confident but tomorrow they aren't playing against a Bundesliga team, they're playing against Barca and Barca is the best team in the world."
Barcelona surrendered the Spanish title to Real Madrid after winning only seven of their 11 matches following the restart.
They then laboured to a 3-1 win over Napoli in the Champions League last 16 on Saturday.
Asked about the expectation that Bayern will go through, Vidal said: "I get it. We are the best team in the world but in La Liga we haven't shown it in the last few games.
"We lost the league but we have Leo, we have other players and if we play well, we can beat anyone.
"Tomorrow we have to show it in the field."
Messi is likely to be key at the Estadio da Luz, with some suggesting all Barcelona's hopes rest on the 33-year-old's shoulders.
Yet Bayern have their own trump card in Lewandowski, who has scored an astonishing 53 goals in 44 games for his club this season.
Messi has hit 31 goals in 43 matches for Barca.
"Lewandowski is a great footballer but he is not at the level of Leo, clearly," said Setien.
"Lewandowski is in great form, he has scored 13 goals in the Champions League and it is true that he is very well supported by many teammates who can also do damage."He's in a great moment but Leo is too. We saw it the other day against Napoli."
Setien also denied Barcelona's chances are entirely dependent on their captain.
"Messi can help win the game, obviously, but I have always believed in the strength of the team," Setien said.
"You also have to help Messi, give him the ball. He can create his own fireworks but without the strength of the team, Leo would not be Leo, like any player."
Setien said Ousmane Dembele will be in the squad and could feature but the France World Cup winner is unlikely to start after being out since November with a hamstring tear. -AFP
